Variable impulse transmitter



1937- w. KOENIG 2,099,982

VARIABLE IMPULSE TRANSMITTER Filed Jan. 8, 1955 Ill E5 INVENTOR:

BY 7 ATzoRu ML Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Landis & Gyr, A.-G.,

Zug, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application January In Switzerland 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to remote control apparatus and more particularly to a novel and improved apparatus for the transmission of apredetermined, variable number of impulses.

Among the objects of the invention is an arrangement including a plurality of switches each adapted to close a circuit to an individual self locking relay, a normally inoperative impulse generator'having the circuit to its electromagnetic driving means completed by any one of the locked relays, a multiple contact counting switch driven proportionally to the number of and by the impulses of the impulse generator and circuit connections between contacts of the individual relays and corresponding contacts of the counting switch for unlocking the locked relay when the counting switch reaches the contact corresponding to the locked relay. Novel means are also provided to reset saidlatter switch to initial position. These and other objects will be apparent as the accompanying specification is studied in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

The single figure oi the drawing is a diagrammatic view showing the various parts of the transmitter and their circuit connections.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a novel and improved impulse transmitter which is entirely automatic in its operation once it has been set in operation, and which may be,if desired, automatically placed in operation. A further object is the provision of an improved impulse transmitter in which the impulses are transmitted rapidly, at a uniform fre- 40 quency, and the number of impulses transmitted is accurately controlled.

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention the impulse transmitter comprises an impulse generator, which may be a rotating commutator for more or less rapidly interrupting thecurrent supply, a rotary, multiple contact switch provided with a motor for automatically resetting the switch to its original normal position after it has been moved therefrom, switch advancing means operated by the impulses to advance the switch proportionately to the number of impulses transmitted, a plurality of alternatively operable selS-locking contact relays to initiate the generation and trans- 8, 1935, Serial No. 829 January 13, 1934 mission of the impulses and to cause continued generation and transmission of impulses and an unlocking'relay connected with the contact relays and the rotary switch to unlock the contact relays and thereby stop the generation and transmission of impulses when the rotary switch has been advanced the predetermined amount which corresponds to the contact relay which was operated.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing, the apparatus is adapted for operation on alternating current of commercial frequencies which is supplied by the mains in and H. The impulse generator comprises a Ferrarls motor having a disc I2 and a magnet winding I 3, the disc driving a commutator i5 which interrupts the current supply and thereby generates the impulses;

A plurality of contact relay's A, B, C, D and E are provided and each of these relays comprises a solenoid l6 (I611, I619, etc.), adapted to move an armature H which carries the movable contacts l8, I9 and 20, adapted to bridge and close their respective stationary contacts. Any desired number of these contact relays may be provided, depending upon the number of different operations to beperformed at the receiving end of the remote control installation, each of the contact relays being adapted to cause the transmission of a diil'erent number of impulses.

An automatically reset contact selector is pro- I vided and is adapted to be operated by the number of impulses transmitted to the receiver. As embodied, this selector comprises a multiplecontact rotary switch having a ratchet 25 connected to a contact arm 26 which contacts with the stationary contacts 21 (21a, 21b, etc.) which correspond in number to the number of relays provided. Ratchet 25 and contact arm 26 are rotatably mounted on motor shaft 29, and are advanced (clockwise) by operation of the pawl 30 pivotally connected 'to the pivoted armature 3| which is operated by magnet 32 against the tension of spring 83. For resetting the contact 26 to its original position, shaft 28 is connected to the armature 34 of a light motor, while the windings II of the motor are in series with a switch 38 which is opened by the contact arm 26 and is automatically closed by movement of 2 accuses the arm it from its original, normal position. Shaft 29 is provided with an arm t6 projecting radially therefrom to engage a pin ti on ratchet 25.

A holding circuit control relay is provided for maintaining closed the other relay circuits until the contact arm 26 has contacted with the proper contact 2! so that generation and transmission of the correct number of impulses is efiected. This relay comprises a solenoid and its armature Ml serving to open the contacts M when this solemold is energized.

For initiating the operation of the various parts of the apparatus, push buttons or time switches it may be provided, one for each of the contact relays, and when one of these switches is closed, impulses are transmitted over the conductors t5, the number of impulses corresponding to the particular switch M which was closed. That is, switch Ma may cause the transmission of a. single impulse; switch Mb may cause three impulses to be transmitted; switch Me may cause four impulses to be transmitted, switch Md may cause transmission of seven impulses; while switch Me may cause transmission of nine impulses. These numbers may be varied, however,

i as required by the apparatus to be operated at the receiving end.

The various parts described above, are in the illustrative embodiment placed in circuit as follows:

The impulse generating commutator it is connected in series with the winding 32 and the conductors t5 and receives its power from the mains iii and. M.

The windings it are connected to mains ill and ii through the contact fill of one of the contact relays and upon closure of the relay, the motor disc it rotates interrupting the current and simultaneously energizing magnet and transmitting impulses over the conductors M.

The resetting motor windings it are connected to main 6 l by conductor tail, and by conductors iii and iii! and switch it to main iii.

The holding circuit control relay coil MB is connected to main ill by conductor 5d, and to contacts ii) by conductors 55 which are arranged in parallel. The other side of contacts is are individually connected to their respective switch contacts 2'6 by conductors 5t, while contact arm 26 is connected to main it by conductor ill.

at the beginning of the operation, current is supplied to each switch Ml from main ill through conductor 5?, contact arm it, normal contact 27] and conductor 5t, and upon closure of one switch 'M is suppliedto the corresponding solenoid it which is also connected to main M by conductor 5t. When solenoid it is energized, contact it is moved to circuit closing position and the solenoid it is then energized through conductor 59, contact iii, contact ti and conductor til.

Inasmuch as the circuit connections of the contact relays B, C, D, and E are duplicates of thecircuit connections for relay A, these will not be described in detail.

In the operation of the illustrative embodiment,

the operator closes switch l la, thereby energizing the solenoid Mia and closing contact switches ltd, ltd and that. The closure of these switches causes motor disc it to rotate, generating im pulses which are supplied to magnet 32 and to the transmission lines 65. Pawl 30 is recipro cated by each impulse, rotating the contact arm 26 until it contacts with contact 2712 and immediately after the first impulse, motor armature 34 begins to rotate, but not as fast as the impulse rotation of the contact arm 2&3. Upon contact of arm 26 with contact 27a, current is supplied to solenoid til, breaking switch ti and releasing armature ill to stop the motor disc i2. Motor 34 continues to operate and arm 56 on shaft 29 engages pin M on ratchet to rotate the ratchet and arm 26 and return them to their original position, thereby causing switch 36 to be opened stopping motor 3%.

The operation caused by the other relays is similar except as to the number oi impulses transmitted and the contact 2i which causes the impulse transmission to stop.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. An impulse transmitter including in combination a rotary multiple contact selector switch having a normal position, an impulse generator and electromagnetic means for driving it, means for advancing the rotary element of the switch proportionally to the number of and by said impulses, means for resetting the switch to its nor mal position after any movement thereof from its normal position, a plurality of relays each having energizing windings and contactscontrolled thereby, a circuit for said electro niagnetic driving means completed by certain of the contacts of any relay when energized, means for initially energizing the winding of each relay,'a holding circuit for each relay closed by certain other of its contacts to maintain the relay energized independent of said initial energizing means, electro-magnetic means common to said holding circults of the relays for opening them, a plurality circuit and thereby stop the operation of the generator.

2. The structure of claim 1, further characterized by the switch resetting means comprising a motor, a lost motion connection between the motor and the rotary element of the switch whereby the switch is moved in advance of the movement of the motor, a motor switch, means for closing the motor switch by the movement of the rotary switch from normal position and for opening the motor switch when the rotary switch reaches normal position and a circuit for said motor. including said motor switch.

NER KOENIG. 

